Moving portable dance floor

ABSTRACT

The present device is a portable dance floor designed to accommodate a dancer doing spins on an endless movable dance surface. The device is wide enough to prevent the dancer falling off the device doing dance moves.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a moving dance floor. In particular, the present invention relates to a continuous moving dance floor providing room and safety for spinning dance steps.

2. Description of Related Art

The need for flooring surfaces suitable for amateur, professional and semi-professional dance is well known. Because people prefer particular types of dance surfaces when dancing, portable dance floors of all types have been patented. These include interlocking panels, raised flooring systems, cushioned systems, vibrating systems and the like. One particular issue is the size of the flooring system. Dance can cover a lot of ground, for example, in a large theater and creating a large space to either perform or rehearse requires a space equal to the distance covered by the dance and/or equal to the area being rehearsed for. This requires a large rehearsal space. The larger the number of people rehearsing the more challenging having enough space becomes.

While moving sidewalk, treadmill and staircase type devices have been developed for exercise and for the transportation of an individual, it's clear that these do not provide the kind of lateral and backward space and safety necessary for a dancer who is moving in more than just a forward direction such is the case in a dance number or an exercise type of dance movement where the dancer is spinning backwards and forward repetitively. There is certainly nothing of a portable nature to accomplish such objectives.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable dance floor at least 7 ft long and 3 ft wide with moving front to back floor and optional side to side movement that allows a dancer to do spins, forward and backward movements while dancing in a back to forward motion.

Accordingly in one embodiment the present invention relates to a portable dance floor comprising:

-   -   a) a dance floor frame having a front, back, left and right         sides;     -   b) an endless movable dance surface moving from a front of the         frame to the back of the frame and having a minimum usable         surface of 7 ft. long and 3 ft. wide; and     -   c) a motor assembly for moving the endless dance surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the dance floor of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detailed description defines the meaning of the terms used herein and specifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the art to practice the invention.

DEFINITIONS

The terms “about” and “essentially” mean ±10 percent.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or as more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

The term “comprising” is not intended to limit inventions to only claiming the present invention with such comprising language. Any invention using the term comprising could be separated into one or more claims using “consisting” or “consisting of” claim language and is so intended.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, and “an embodiment” or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.

The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means any of the following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C”. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.

The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustrating certain convenient embodiments of the present invention, and are not to be considered as limitation thereto. The term “means” preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein and use of the term “means” is not intended to be limiting.

As used herein the term “portable dance floor” refers to a device, machine or the like that can be relatively easily moved from one position to another. This as opposed to being fixed to the floor or weigh enough that it takes a number of people to move it from one place or another. A portable dance floor can then be used at a desired location usually by one person such as home or at an exercise location in the middle of the floor and be put away in a closet or other out of the way location so the space can be utilized for something else. The design of the present invention lends itself to such portability. The portability of devices in the exercise industry is well known with such devices as climbing machines, running machines, devices to simulate cross country skiing, weight machines and the like. The portable dance floor will also have a “frame” having a front, back, left and right sides designed to hold the dance surface of the portable dance floor.

As used herein the term “endless movable dance surface” refers to a surface mounted on the dance floor frame that moves from the front to the back in a manner that allows the dancer to dance forward, run, walk etc and stay in place. Typically a continuous belt material mounted on rollers would come under the definition of endless movable dance surface. The surface can be motorized or non-motorized. Treadmill type rollers work the same way, however are too narrow and short for use by a dancer. This device can be remote controlled or have controls mounted on the device.

As used herein the term “minimum usable surface” refers to the length and width the dancer can step on left, right, forward and back during use of the device. Because a dancer will do 180 to 360 spins while moving forward, back, left and right on the moveable dance floor there must be a different surface area than is normally available. Typical running treadmills e.g., are 2 foot by 5 foot (i.e. the usable surface at any given moment even if the tread itself is longer on the loop it forms). In order to be large enough for dancing the usable surface must be at lease 7 ft. long and 3 ft. wide. In other embodiments the length is 8, 9, 10 ft. or more. In other embodiments the width is 4, 5, 6, 7 ft. or more. In one embodiment, the surface is a rectangular surface, e.g. 7 ft. by 7 ft. In one embodiment, the surface covers the entire surface of the dance frame (lateral surface with no edges showing laterally.) In one embodiment, the dance floor is mounted as low to the floor as possible. In one embodiment it is set in a trough such that the dance floor is even with the surface of the floor.

As used herein the term “motor assembly” and “motorized” refers to the fact that the endless movable dance surface must be powered electrical or other motor in order to keep the movement going. One skilled in the art can build a motor to use to power the surface.

As used herein the term “safety devices” refers to devices that are placed at the front, rear, left or right side of the frame to prevent the user from falling off or to cushion the user should the user fall off the device during use. They can be solid, cushions or any material; they can be attached or separate and in one embodiment they can fold out from the sides or back. Railings, for example, can be utilized to keep a dancer on the device and cushions (inflatable or padded) can be positioned strategically in case of a fall especially from the sides or the back of the floor. There can be a rubberized surface where desired as well. cause a dancer is spinning, a fall off the sides or back is more likely than on a running treadmill.

As used herein the term “dance mirror” refers to a mirror of a size and shape to allow a dancer to watch their entire body while performing dance moves on the movable dance floor. Running and walking forward are not considered dance moves by themselves and require upper body and or spinning movements to be considered dance.

As used herein the term “retractable handles” refers to handles that can be pulled or swing into place when necessary or can be moved out of the way when desired.

As used herein the terms “dancer” and “dancing” refers to an individual using the endless movable dance surface that would be doing 180 and 360 spin moves such that the dance at some point will be facing the front of the frame and at other times the back, left, and right sides of the frame. Arm dance movements are also included in the term “dancer” and in this case it is a combination of exercise due to the nature of the continuous movable dance floor and the dance moves utilized by the dancer.

Now referring to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a portable dance floor of the present invention. Portable dance floor 1 consists of a frame 2. Frame 2 has front 3, back 4 left, 5 and right 6 sides. Mounted on the frame 2 is endless movable dance surface 7 which is an endless loop surface having minimum dimensions of 7 ft. length 8 and 3 ft. wide 9 which can be motorized or not. Also shown in this view is cushion 10, which can surround the entire frame 2, but a piece is shown for clarity sake. Fencing in the front 11 prevents falling off the front 3 but could be on any of the sides. It also has retractable handles 12 and dance mirror 13. A rubber coating is shown on a portion of the device. A remote control for operating a motorized device is shown but controls could be built into the device.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principles of the present invention without departing from its spirit or characteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description or drawings. Consequently, while the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials and the like apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope of the invention as claimed by the Applicant. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable dance floor comprising: a) a dance floor frame having a front, back, left and right sides; b) an endless movable dance surface moving from a front of the frame to the back of the frame and having a minimum usable surface of 7 ft. long and 3 ft. wide; and c) a motor assembly for moving the endless dance surface.
 2. The portable dance floor according to claim 1 which further comprises lateral safety devices.
 3. The portable dance floor according to claim 1 which further comprises at least one of a front or rear safety device.
 4. The portable dance floor according to claim 1 which further comprises the movable dance floor being motorized to move laterally while moving forward and back.
 5. The portable dance floor according to claim 1 wherein the movable dance surface can move both in a forward and backwards direction.
 6. The portable device according to claim 1 which further comprises a dance mirror positioned for a user of the device to see themselves while dancing on the portable dance floor.
 7. The portable dance floor according to claim 1 which further comprises a dancer dancing on the dance floor executing half turns while the dance surface is moving in a front to back motion.
 8. The portable dance floor according to claim 1 wherein the dance floor surface has about the same width and length.
 9. The portable dance floor according to claim 1 which further comprises retractable handles.
 10. The portable dance floor according to claim 1 wherein the dance surface covers the entire lateral surface of the dance frame. 